African Women Lawyers Association, Nigeria (AWLAN), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has held a One-Day inaugural symposium on “women inclusiveness in politics”, with a call on the Federal Government to implement 35% affirmative on political positions to women.
The symposium also urged women to support themselves, come out and contest for elective positions
Speaking at the event which was held at Justice Umezuluike Auditorium, High Court, Enugu, Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical province and Bishop of Enugu Diocese, (Anglican Communion), His Lordship Most Reverend (Prof) Emmanuel Chukwuma (OON), advised women to shun hatred and gossips and live a responsible life.
He also urged women to make themselves responsible and useful. “Don’t look down on yourselves, love and support yourselves. When you do that God will bless you”, Chukwuma said.
The Cleric, who spoke on the theme of the symposium, “Towards inclusion: Which way for the Nigerian Woman?” , promised to support women to achieve the 35% or 40% affirmative action,as they wished .
Archbishop Chukwuma commended Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, for being gender-sensitive in his appointments
He urged women to come together and support fellow women contesting for elective positions.
Archbishop Chukwuma said: “A woman should be a builder, virtuous, wise and capable of occupying any leadership position”.
In his remarks, the chairman of Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Ambassador Laurence Agubuzu, urged women to always support themselves. He assured the women of the support of the Enugu traditional rulers.
Speaking at the event, wife of the founder of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Odumegwu Ojukwu, and former Miss Nigeria, Iyom Bianca Ojukwu, observed that women are their own problems.
She urged women to always support one another, encourage those contesting for elective positions, saying, that women are mothers, some have held so many leadership positions and had empowered people.
Executive Director and founder of an advocacy group, ,Women Support Women, Onyinye Mamah, in her speech, urged women to imbibe “beauty of character”. She noted that its only when women have good character that they could lead.
“Some do not have character that it takes to take leadership positions . We have the voice and all it takes to win an election. When you don’t know the power you have, you allow men to keep wining election.. It’s time for women to to rise up and take leadership positions”, Mamah said.,
Speaking further, Mamah said women should have “accommodating spirit. ”
“The accommodating spirit you have in you is a beautiful character. You don’t envy anyone. There are languages you don’t use. Cover up women’s errors. If you found a woman that doesn’t love another woman, tell her she is reducing our population. If women are together, the men will come to beg us. Women have the population to win elections “, Mamah said.
She encouraged women to support those who could put up structures on ground.
” Let us try women that bear children, carry children,. Women who are contesting and see them succeed”, Mamah said
In her Goodwill message, the senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Enugu East senatorial zone, Hon.Ada Ogbu, commended the organisers of the event. She stressed the need for women to come out and support fellow women contesting elective positions. She said it’s a thing of concern that women do not support themselves.
” Women should support themselves, women should chat a way forward. Women should ask themselves about what is happening and encourage one another “, Ogbu said.
Ogbu said she is the first female to be nominated to contest for senatorial position in Enugu East senatorial zone. She appealed for support of the women, saying that, “women have the number to make a difference. Only a woman can understand what other women are doing, if you’re coming out”, she said.
In a chat, chairperson of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists(NAWOJ),Enugu state chapter, Comrade Ngozi Ngene ,
congratulated the organizers of the program She pledged the support of NAWOJ to African Women Lawyers Association Nigeria(AWLAN) .”You have our support when it comes to news coverage and others”, she said
Ngene urged women to support one another, noting that ,”A woman is a full circle, within her is the power to create nature, and transform. She knows the need of her children”
” If a woman is at the center stage of any administration, there will be development I strongly believe her influence will save our country Nigeria. There is no limit to what we as women can accomplish,” Ngene said.
She advised women to support each other, encourage each other, and love the well-being of the society.
Earlier, in her welcome address, the Coordinator of African Women Lawyers Association, Nigeria, (AWLAN), Ziggy Mukosolo Mcjosy said the program was aimed at bringing women together to sensitise them on the need to support themselves, to support fellow women who are strong, women who have leadership qualities, get them to join politics and contest for leadership positions.
She said, “Women should love themselves. Don’t allow anybody to intimidate you. Interact with other women. Don’t be at the back,. Don’t be behind, sensitise others.God knows what you are passing through”, she said.
McJosy said that African Women Lawyers Association, Nigeria was formed, to play advocacy role, to promote the women folk. “We are for good governance and we promote inclusiveness. If we don’t move as a United force, we are on the wrong spot.
“There is no specification of how far a woman should go. Women want 35% affirmative. It is not too much. Women should support themselves”, she said.
All those who spoke at the event commended the AWLAN for organising the program.
The speakers called on women of good character to participate in politics and contest for leadership positions.
